Peru Aug 14

This is an email I got to send home on Monday, and I know some of you have read it, and it's a little redundant, butI thought I'd include it for those who didn't get to read it before.

Subject: hello from Peru! Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:36:29 -0600
Hello everyone! It is Monday, Aug 14 and we are on our last day in the valley before we leave for Cuzco tomorrow. I didn't think I'd be able to communicate with you at all while I am here, so this may be the only letter you get until I return. About 10 of us just drove to the next town (Vitor) in the valley today because there are no locals to hang out with today since they are working and we are not. Here is a type of internet cafe, so we are all emailing at once! It's great! The past week has been challenging and most of us have gotten sick, but most of us are all better now, which is an answer to prayer. We have had a wonderful time being with the people here and trying to communicate with them in Spanish. Many of them just smile or laugh at us when we try to say something, but they have had great patience and want to know what we mean. The children's VBS was less organized than we had intended, but nonetheless, was successful, and I think all of the kids had a really good time! They simply want anybody who will be with them and have fun because many of their parents don't since they are always working to put food on the table. The ladies night was powerful for me because one of the Peruvian women shared her testimony and it was a hard one for her to tell and she needed to stop because she was crying. I was choking it back, since you all know me and how much of a crier I am. After she finished, I gave her a huge hug and she said ´God bless you´ and I was thinking, ´No, God bless you!´ The movie night was also really great and I hope and pray that it touched some hearts of those watching who had not yet recieved the Lord as their Saviour. Saturday, work was done early, so many of the men went swimming in the pool, and they made a good time of it with Canadians throwing in Peruvians and Peruvians doing the same to us! We all had a good laugh over that. It is not hard to see the relatiionships developing, and already, some are asking if we are coming back and when. I praise the Lord for this. Yesterday, pastor Chris preached twice- once in Arequipa (and we were very well received there), and then last night in San Luis (which is in the valley, in walking distance of the camp where we've been staying). Chris shared a big part of his heart last night with the people and his desire for the entire valley to be reached for the Gospel. He had such a longing and deep passion for them that I don't even fully understand after only a week here, but what he was saying was what God was saying to me, because I sat and cried (again, I know) for this same thing. What an incredible thing it is for people to be able to tell of God's incredible love to others. Minister to your neighbours and your neighbours' neighbours, he said. I can't fully describe the burden of love on some of our hearts here, but I'm going to carry this with me home. The world is a dark place and we ARE light who know God, so why shall the world remain dark? It shall not indeed, I say! The Word says, ´they will know we are Christians by our love´, and this has definitely spoken loudly this past week. God has already been working in the hearts of these people and we want to continue to see his work done here. Pray for the young church here that it will grow to maturity; that it will be unified and not torn apart by the Devil; that more would be added to it; that trained Peruvians will take responsibility and leadership roles to help with the minstry and discipleship. I don't know if we have ministred to the Peruvians more, or if they have minstered to us more! It's an incredible thing, this fellowship. They love us with no reason, except that we came here, leaving behind everything else in North America. They bless us in ways they don't even know, but maybe this goes both ways. :) Onto a lighter topic, all our hard work is done and the next 3 days will be for fun! Touring around and shopping. I have learned that all of us Canadians suck at bartering! They say a price, and we say ´Ok!´ The Dargatz's shake their heads... I guess we are just too polite! In Canada, the price simply isn't negotiable, but in Cuzco, it is very negotiable, and Vegas warned us that we may have to be rude, because some many people want to sell you so much stuff! I guess we'll see how it goes. Thank you for all your prayers. I could say much more, but this is long as it is. And thank you to those who wrote in my Encouragement book from HLAC. You don't know how appropriate many of the entries have been so far. God bless you all! In Christ, Carmen PS: I love and miss you Drake!

Peru- August 12- End of the week

Friday swimming fun!


























Saturday Morning

"Everyone got up early again @ 6:30 for breakfast and the men were working by 7am. Me, Vegas, Ann, Mary Beth & Liliana went staining picnic tables & the roof again until lunch. We almost finished what we had planned to do, but we ran out of stain! It was hard work and it was hot and I was ready to be done anyways. In fact, I was ready to be done long before we were. "



The Story

"See, Liliana & I had done one picnic table and then Ann began moving things off the last picnic table so it could be done but they asked us if we'd rather do another table or the deck around the pool. We choose the deck..." but quickly discovered it was dirty, so we got brooms to sweep it off, but to no avail. The dirt "was dried on from the children's wet feet the day before when the pool was finally open & they all got to swim. (They were very excited about that since some of them had brought their swimsuits with them everyday!) We realized we would have to wash it b4 we could stain it again, but Jim said to wait b/c after the men's work was done that morning they would be swimming. Ok, so Liliana & I" returned to "where the other ladies were still varnishing and were asked if we wanted to help Mary Beth & Ann with the table. I didn't really want to & felt as though I could use a nap but we went and helped. The thing was, I seemed to be the only person who had painted a picnic table before. They had it upside down, to reach the underside, (very good) but did all of the outermost boards first so that to get the farther boards, you would have to reach over the painted boards to get to the inner ones. Well, I can say I had a bad attitude b/c I thought to myself, I'll just paint the side & other boards and let the first two fix their own mistake- Why should I have to do it? But as us 4 went on, Ann left to do something else & then Mary Beth switched to painting the roof (as she had been doing earlier that morning) which left me & Liliana to finish the table by ourselves. This made my mood worse! The nerve! They both just left! And guess who gets to fix thier mistake- Me! I was mad! But I knew that's not what God wanted. He reminded me of what I read in my HLAC Encouragement book the day before "Never tire of doing good..."


The Men at Work





















After work fun!












The Afternoon

"We had lunch & I was going to have a shower (since we had water b/c there was an annoncement a day or two earlier that we had no more water for showering or laundry), but lunch was at 12:30 today instead of 12, so by the time we were done washing dishes, it was around 1 and I had a meeting at 2 for singing in church on Sunday with Bill & whoever else wanted to. So, I took out my Bible (I needed to actually prepare for my devotional that night b/c this way my day I had signed up for), but mostly because I just needed God to work in my heart. I suppose in a way, I was loosing my own vision of why I was here. It was good, and our music practice was- ah, challenging. Not very many of us were very musical, but we could hold a melody. The men did much better than the women. Bill wanted to do an old hymn with harmony, but he gave up on that and we sang 'We Wanna See Jesus Lifted High' instead.

Random pics of mealtimes


Me and my Bible

Peru- August 11

On Friday, "...I felt fine! We had been praying for all of us to get well again, so we all have. Praise you, Lord! I don't ever want to be sick like that again. We did our last day of VBS (since we cancelled Sat. b/c many of us are still tired or sick a little) and it went well." We made little tic tac containers into "Jesus shakers" and put a cross on one side and a Jesus fish sticker with the initial of our names on the other side, and of course, candy inside- good for making sound and eating! They enjoyed it.







"Yolanda and Carlos are doing the dental clinic again today & on Sat (thankfully they haven't gotten sick!)










... Tanya & I went for a walk after lunch down to the river at the bottom of the valley. It was very cool! We found this one spot where the river was rushing over the rocks and then curved around the bend & disappeared. We climbed onto a large rock in the water and sat there for a long time just admiring the view. Admiring God. We talked for probably 40 mins and then decided we really should head back, so we did.

Tanya was going to paint picnic tables, etc again with Vegas, but Vegas said I wasn't allowed b/c I was still recuperating so I rested until supper. Most meals, I have noticed, are very flavourful- nothing is bland- and sometimes the smells and flavours agree with me and sometimes they don't. We have had a good share of rice and chicken in different ways. They are good cooks. We even had cake for dessert twice! One was like a coffee cake & one was like a banana (plantano) cake. We had jello too & chicken soup one lunch when many of us were sick.
"Friday night was a movie night and there were a lot of people. First (while everyone was coming) they played a Spanish cartoon for the children & it was cute. Then, they showed the movie "The Climb" and it had a really good message about God and Salvation. (but wasn't cheesy like many 'religious' movies). After it was over, we passed around hot chocolate and snack. Then it was bed! I hope the movie made some people think."

Peru- August 10

"On Thursday, I was pretty much sick all day & spent much time in bed. I had the runs like something nasty & went through a lot of liquids. Vegas said I must force myself to drink lots, so I did b/c when you're sick, you can't afford to be dehydrated. Jim and Vegas made sure everyone who was sick got a bottle of Powerade. I had 2 or 3 during the entire time I was sick (about 30 hrs). And I had to change my underwear more than once! (sorry to include that, but it can happen to the best of us). That night I went to bed with an upset stomach and sometime in the night, I went to the bathroom & had more diarrhea and then threw up in the little garbage can beside the toilet used for all the paper you don't flush. Ann went & got Vegas, but I was back in bed by the time she came. She made sure I was ok & we all went to sleep. "

(I bet you're sure happy I have no pictures to share for this one, huh?)

My Name's Car

I'm a Mazda RX-8!

You're sporty, yet practical, and you have a style of your own. You like to have fun, and you like to bring friends along for the ride, but when it comes time for everyday chores, you're willing to do your part.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

http://www.tomorrowland.us/sportscar/

Peru- August 9

Today we got up early again and I had my first "shower". It is cold water, so you pretty much jump in enough to get wet, turn it off & soap yourself & shampoo, then turn it on again, quick rinse & get out & dry. But it was still nice to be able to wash my dirty feet! We had los huevos (eggs) for breakfast (Yummm!) & bread buns.

Yolanda and I did the VBS craft again today- Hot Chilies! It was fun! More fun than yesterday (probably because yesterday was our first day & we didn't really know what to expect). Hot Chilies are a craft made out of celephane and candy and googlie eyes. The children started with a flat piece of celophane and had to wrap it in a way that it was round on the top with a point at the bottom (like a cone). Then you tape it to stay. Then you get to add the candy inside to keep it round (and also to make noise when you shake it) and tie it at the top with a string. After that, you can glue on the eyes and use a marker to draw a mouth & nose, etc. But the eyes kept falling off b/c the glue didn't stick very well to the celophane. Also, the children needed a lot of assistance in making the round shape. And some kids ate their candies before putting them in! That was the first group. After that, we made clear instructions for no one to eat it until later. But the craft took so long that they had no time to be bored & act up. That was great! The blue group (the little ones) never got to make a craft today b/c their leader got mixed up & they went to ride the horses during that time. Oh well.
After VBS we had lunch- papas fritas (french fries) & hamburger patties & salad. It was good!

There is a concern for some of our team members' health & some have gotten sick. Vegas and Jim are doing their best to keep us healthy though and are giving pills for upset stomach & prescribing Powerade to replenish us with nutrients & enzymes or something.

This afternoon, Tanya brought out her hemp & beads & we all started cutting strings so they'd be ready b/c tonight, the mom's & women's groups are meeting (and we thought it would be fun to teach them a new craft that they've never done before).
At about 3:30 or 4, I went to lay down because my stomach was upset & I slept about an hour. Before supper I walked around a little and felt very weak & nausiated. I went to the bathroom & threw up on the floor (just a little). Supper was starting but I went and got Ann and she cleaned it up for me! During the last hour, I cried a little. When you just need to cry, you need to cry! Maybe everything is catching up with me all at once. I do miss home; I probably have culture shock. Tanya gave me a hug & it helped. Vegas also gave me 3 pills & I am to take them every 4 hours. I am supposed to do my testimony tonight for the ladies, but I'm not sure now if I will. I am tired & want to sleep. Is that best for my body or is that Satan wanting to hinder this ministry? In the Bible it says to put your hope in the Lord & you'll renew your strength- you'll run and not grow weary, walk and not faint & as I remember that verse I think to myself, "Am I not trusting in God? Why am I sick, why am I tired?" I just really want to go home, but I really want to be here. In my encouragement book (a little compilation of encouraging notes people in my church wrote to me while I'm here in Peru), that was the exact verse that Carolyn gave me! Wow, God!

* * * * * * *


The ladies night was fun. There were many ladies (30 or 40?) and some brought their girls too young toddlers & we all sat & sang songs (Mary Beth, a missionary there from Manitoba, plays guitar) and then we got ready for the hemp-making bracelets and necklaces. It could have gone better b/c it took a long time to get all of the supplies around and then to teach them as a group how to cross and pull the strings. Some groups were like 1/3 done and others were still waiting to start. Many of them ran out of time to finish (esp. if they were making a necklace), but I think they still enjoyed themselves and enjoyed the challenge of learning something new. I made my first bracelet & finished just in time.

Then, Liz did a devotional with Ann translating on Prov. 31. It was good. I was praying that God would be touching the ladies' hearts. Then, Liz said her testimony & another Peruvian woman said her testimony with Vegas translating. She has had a hard past, quite unloving, so it was powerful to hear and she cried and had to stop at one point. I gave her a big hug after. Thank you Lord for her. She is evidence of your life changing love and power.

Peru- August 8

It's Tuesday! The day everything starts. Liliana rang the big bell at 6:30am. (to wake everyone up). Right now it is 7:10 and we are supposed to have group devotions. 7:30 is breakfast and Carlos and Yolanda are wiping the tables off. The view here looks really cool with the sun up now. It's quite green down here and there are some tall trees that look like Cedars.
Lord, I just want to serve you today!
* * * * * * *
Now, it's just after supper. People are mingling and talking and I feel a great need for a nap- so I'm writting here instead. Breakfast was porridge and I ate about half of mine (I really don't care for porridge) with bun things and jam (marmalada). All jam seems to be the same kind here and it's always called Marmalada. We did the VBS this morning and it was quite something. I don't know how the other stations went, (since there were many like one for the story, one for the craft, one for the horsebackriding, etc) but I did the craft the whole time and it went pretty good. Some kids had a challenge listening to sit and then after the craft , we talked a little bit about the sunshine (that we had painted with our hands) and how it related to Jesus.

Yolanda and I did the four groups (which were categorized by age) one after another, but the last group came late and not all of them got to do the craft, (which they were upset about) because it was noon and they had to leave back on the big wagon that brought them here.

"The men all came back for lunch (our team and the locals) and we all ate together. We had squash soup (which was quite good b/c they added just the right spices). And we had rice & chicken & potatoes (pollo y papas) in a sauce.

After lunch Tanya & I didn't know what to do (b/c we were not needed to help with the dentist), so Vegas gave us a job of staining some picnic tables, and as we did, we met a new friend, Samuel, who is 25 and lives in Arequipa. He helped stain two tables, and a little guy named Jordan (Hordan) helped too. He's not that young, maybe 10 or 12? Anyways, we were ready to be done then, so we ended and I found I have a large blister full of liquid on the inside side of my thumb on my left hand from the paintbrush! It took a while to get our hands clean b/c we needed someone to find us some varisol or paint thinner to get it off. One of the older men on the camp got some and poured a little out on what looked like cheese cloth so we all got some. That was real great, b/c we really didn't want to stay that sticky! After, we went for a short walk around the camp to see more and came back for supper.

"I am thankful Lord, that you helped us make this friend. He left, but he'll be back next week. I can see that a lot of good relationships are developing with many people, and I thank you Lord. Liliana is still doing very well with her English and though she stops in confusion with strong and solid expression b/c she is thinking so hard, she keeps trying, keeps laughing and smiling. Thank- you . Her smile makes me smile. She is beautiful to me. And Lord, thank you for Tanya and Sari. I think they are doing excellent too, though they are a little shy-er to strike up conversation; this is their first missions trip and I pray that you would work in them. Lord, sometimes your vision gets me, just for a glimpse, and I really do want to cry. Oh, what incredible love! Oh, what joy! You are our hope and our only light. We are a lost people, Lord, and it is no different in any culture. I think it was yesterday, I thought to myself, if I do go on missions, I want to go somewhere that they already speak English. Then, I don't have that language barrier and can really start ministering and having deep conversations with those around me about God. But Lord, something inside changed. Perhaps I like the challenge of learning Spanish, but it would take twice as long to get to the same place but I guess then you still have developed a relationship during that time. That's important too. Lord, you know what is best and I trust you. It's not up to me anyways! You are Lord. You are King! Reign in me! Oh, for your Glory reign in me! Thank you for Anton and that he is here and growing in you. Thank- you for his devotion & personal stories. Bless him in Jesus' name. Amen.